Lubricating device



' CfA. CAMPBELL.

LUBRICATING DEVICE.

APPLlcAnoN min JuNEzl, |921.

T5 6 mm @a n 9 n ww w 1/ AY S 5 0 d m Q g im 7 ,i \Pm,v 0. j/ A 0 l, 9 5

@A o @u -JMW L/ C. A. CAMPBELL. LumcAnNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEl'Zr 192i.

'Patented Jan. 3,1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s n 6 a 8 5 3 2 i 2 .7 du av if-HEM.-

r M W d a o/l/JY we 1 2 i li z wmv l y w. a 4 w 2 6 2 o o mw M W 3 W./fqv Q3 .Wn VW www KW f lTED STATES CHARLES A. CAMPBELL, OF WATERTOWN,NEW YORK.

LUBRICATING DEVICE.

Application filed .Tune 21, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. CAMP- BELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at W'atertown, in the county of Jefferson and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLubricating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lubricating devices, and particularly tocombined force and gravity feed lubricators for air compressors andother pumps and motors of the expansible chamber type.

The device operates to feedoil at each compressor piston stroke andderives the power to effect each oil-feeding operation from the pressurefluctuation accompanying such piston stroke. The lubricator thusoperates only when the compressor or other connected device operates.

The mechanism includes an oil reservoir and a retarded, multiple-portedvalve. This valve acts on a rise of compressor cylinder pressure toadmit elastic pressure fluid over the oil in the reservoir, and thentraps this pressure fluid. When cylinder pressure falls the valve movesback toward its initial position. In its travel .it momentarily opens anoil port, permitting the pressure liuid trapped over the oil to force asmall quantity of oil into a delivery passage, and when the valvereaches its initial position the remaining trapped pressure. fluid iscaused to blow this oil from the delivery passage into the compressorcylinder. This cycle is repeated for each cycle of the pump.

The invention also involves ,certain features of construction leading toease of manufacture, fewness of parts. and certainty of function.

. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section Yof. the

complete lubricator with the combined reservoir and valve in its lowestposition, the arrows showing the path and direction of air flow whenpressure begins to rise inthe connected cylinder. i

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the combined reservoir and valve at itsupper limit ,of travel. It is in this position at the time of maximumvpressure in the connected cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the combined reservoir and valve movingdownward, at the point when oil discharges from ,the reservoir to theside por-,t in the easing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922. serial No. 479,333.

Fig. 4 shows the parts in the same position as Fig. 1, but the arrowsshow the fluid flow at the end of the cycle when pressure intheconnected cylinder is dying away and oil 1s owing from the lubricator tothe cyl inder.

Fig. 5 is a half elevation and half section of the combined reservoirand valve;

Fig. 6 is a half elevation and half section of the ported liner in whichthe combined valve and reservoir is guided.

The device is housed in a hollow cvlindrical casing 11 open at itsupperrendu and closed at its lower end except for thev threaded opening12 `into which is screwed the nipple 13 having a choke port 14. The sizeof choke port 14C controls the rate of oil feed and I contemplate theuse of interchangeable nipples 13v having different sizes of choke port.A union 15 is provided to connect nipple 13 to a pipe leading to thepump cylinder (not shown). This pipe conducts oil from the lubricator tothe .cylinder and also transmits pressure fluctuations between thecylinder andlubricator.

The casing is connected to any suitable support by Studs or machinescrews (not shown) threaded into the holes 16.

The open upper end of casing 11 is closed by a cap 17 having a centralaperture, the cap being held in place by screws 13, and a gasket 19being inserted to seal the joint. The cylinder is lined by a portedcylindrical bushing 2O which seats at its lower end o-n a gasket 21 andat its upper end against a portion of gasket 19. The bush-` ing 2O isthus in effect the same as if integral with casing 1l, but the use of aseparate bushing simplifies the formation of the ports and the selectionof materials.

T e bushing 2O is formed with an inwardly projecting stop-flange 22 atits lowerY end and with a side port 23 which connects air port 24 andoil port 25, both near the top of bushing 2O with a port 26 near thelower end of the bushing.

A cup-shaped member 27 which combines the functions of the oilreservoir, actuating piston and distributing valve is verticallyslidable in bushing 20 between limits defined by its collision withiiange 22 and cap 17. The member 27 is open at its upper end and has. atits lower end a skirt 28 extending below partition 29 which serves asthe bottom of oil reservoir 30.

Through the skirt 28 extend a series of lio ports 31 which lead to anannular groove 32. The port 26 registers with groove 32 in the lowermostposition of member 27, is uncovered by member 27 in its uppermostposition, and is blanlred in all other A(intermediate) positions of saidmembers.

An oil port 33 entends from a point near the bottomof oil reservoir 30to annular oil groove 34 near the upper end of member 27. Groove 34 isso positioned that it registers with oil port 25 of bushing 20 in anintermediate position of member 27 (see Fig. 3),7 port 25 and groove 34being both blanked in all other positions (see Figs.1 and 2). Air port24 is open in the lowermost position of member 27 and is blanlred in allother positions.`

The central aperture in cap 17 is closed by filling plug 35 which isthreaded therein and seals against Vgasket 36. Plug 35 carries a guiderod 37 on which is slidably mounted the retarding sleeve 38. Completeseparation of sleeve 38 and rod 37 is prevented by the pin and slotconnection 39. Sleeve 38 is urged downward by coil spring 40 surroundingrod 37 and interposed between the flanged upper end of sleeve 38 and thelower face of plug 35.

lilith the parts assembled as shown in Fig.

1 spring 40 holds sleeve 38 against the up-y Y per face of partition 29and thus acts continually to urge member 27 toward its lowermostposition. Groove 41 in the lower end of sleeve 38 permits oil flow toand -from the interior of sleeve 38.

Assume that the lubricator is connected by a pipe to the cylinder of acompressor. At the end of the suction stroke the parts of the lubricatorwill be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and as the compression strokecommences air will flow through ports 31, 26, 23 and 24 to the space inthe top of the lubricator above thek oil containedy in reservoir 30.During this How the retard spring 40 is holding member 27 down againstthe air pressure acting on the lower side of partition 29. Before thecompletion of theV compression strokeof the compressor, member 27 willshift to its uppermost position, the' spring 40 being overpowered by theefective upward pressure on partition 29.

In the position shown in Fig. 2 the oil in reservoir 30 is under elasticfluid pressure, ports 24 and 25 are both blanked, and port 23 is ventedthrough port 26 which is cleared by skirt 28.

After pressure inthe compressor has begun to fall member 27 will startdownward impelled partly by spring 40 and partly by the pressurwe Huidtrapped above the oil.

In its -travel it passes through the position shown in Fig.` 3 in whichpositionport 26l is blanked and port 25 registers with groove 34. Sinceport 23 was vented in the uppermost position of member 27, the presandports 31. Thence it is carried partly by gravity and partly by the aircurrent to the compressor cylinder.

rThe cycle above described is repeated for each cycle oit' thecompressor.

While I prefer to adjust the oil feeding action of theflubricator bychanging the length or diameter (or both) of the choke port 14, the.adjustment can be made in other ways. The result can be accomplished bychanging the number or size of ports 31, by

changing the size ofV port 8, or by changing the length or diameter ofthe pipe connecting the lubricator and pump cylinder. All these methodsof adjustmenthave in common the idea of varying a throttling eiiect onpressure fluid surging between the compressor and pump, and in theirbroad aspects are equivalents.

What is claimed is 1. In a lubricator for cylinders, the combination ofan oil reservoir; a ported casing; a ported piston mounted toreciprocate in said casing;,resilient means urging said piston in onedirection; and a connection serving to cause pressure fluid Jfrom thelubricated cylinder to act against said piston in opposition tofsaidresilient means and move said piston in response to variationsot`pressure in the lubricated cylinder; the ports in said piston and casingcoacting on an. initial rise in pressure to admit pressure iuid to `saidreservoiron greater rise `oi' pressure to trap said pressure fluid insaid reservoir, on fall of pressure to release a definite quantity ofoil Jfrom said reservoir; and on further all of pressure to direct saidtrapped pressure fluid against said released quantityv of oil to expelthe same from the lubricator.

2. In a lubricator for cylinders, the combination of an oil reservoir; acasing provided with an oil receiving passage andV ports connectingtherewith; a ported piston mounted to reciprocate in said casing;resili-V ent means urging said piston in one direction; and aconnectionserving to cause presisure Huid from the lubricated cylinderto act against said piston in oppositionto said resilient means, andmovesaid piston lin response to variation of pressure in the lubricatedcylinder, the portsin said, piston and casing coacting on an initialrise in pressure to` admit` pressure liuld to said reservoir.y

on al greater-rise of pressurei to trap said pressure Huid in saidreservoir andvent saidV oil receiving passage, on tall of pressure to,

release oil from said reservoir to said oil receiving passage, and onfurther fall of pressure to cut olf oil from said reservoir and directsaid trapped pressure fluid into said oil receivin passage to expel thecontained oil from t e lubricator.

3. In a lubricator for cylinders, the combination of a ported casing; acombined reservoir and ported piston mounted to reciprocate in saidcasing; a spring urging said piston in one direction; and a connectionserving to cause pressure fluid from the lubricated cylinder to actagainst said piston in opposition to said spring and move said piston inresponse to variations of pressure in the lubricated cylinder, the portsin said piston and casing coacting on an initial rise of pressure toadmit pressurevfluid to said reservoir, on greater rise of pressure totrap said pressure Huid in said reservoir, and on fall of pressure, rstto release a small quantity of oil Jfrom said reservoir and then onfurther fall of pressure to direct said trapped pressure fluid againstsaid released oil to expel the same from the lubricator.

4.-. In a lubricator for cylinders, the combination of a ported casing;a cup-shaped ported piston open at its upper end, adapted to serve as anoil reservoir; and mounted to reciprocate in said casing; a springurging said piston downward; a connection adapted to cause pressurefluid from the lubricated cylinder to act against the lower side of saidpiston to move the same in response to variations of pressure in thelubricated cylinder, the ports of said piston and casin coacting on aninitial rise of pressure to a mit pressure Huid above said piston, ongreater rise of pressure to trap said pressure fluid above said pistonand on fall of pressure i'irst to discharge a small quantity of oil fromsaid reservoir by the action of said trapped pressure fluid and then onfurther fall of pressure to cut off said discharge and direct saidpressure Huid against said discharged oil and blow the same into saidconnection.

5. In a lubricator for cylinders, the combination of a ported casing; acup-shaped piston open at its upper end, adapted to serve as an oilreservoir and having ports one of which is an oil port leading from nearthe bottom of the reservoir to a point above the oil level in saidreservoir; a spring urging said piston downward; and a connectionserving to cause pressure fluid from the lubricated cylinder to actagainst the lower face of said piston and move said piston in responseto pressure variations in said cylinder, the ports in said piston andcasing coacting on an initial rise in pressure to admit pressure Huidabove said piston, upon continued rise in pressure to trap said pressurefluid above said piston, and upon fall of pressure first to permit oilto discharge from said oil port under the pressure of said trappedpressure lluid, and then to cut olf said discharge and release saidtrapped pressure fluid o-Ver said discharged oil to blow said oil fromthe lubricator into said connection. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES A. CAMPBELL.

